OP by Trainman:
My first brass project was that substation.
............................... ............ ........ wow! I feel tiny in comparison reading that 
Your story is reminiscent of my own grandfathers guidance. An Artisan byproduct of the twenties. Valve and gauge maker by trade. For fun, early Michigan racing(with Allison airplane engine in a Cord), boating, woodworking, a bakers son! mmm Fancy-Cakes, oil painting, scale- "professional" doll houses & some architects models, electronics, and a bit of Rube Goldberg-ing for fun. "Honey, look what I made" (she never new if he was serious cause it always worked, and with brass work & finished wood bases, so serious looking 
)
Also he was ship-in the bottle guy.
Neither I, nor my Lionel-Gramps could hold a finger to his modeling. Doing things with the end of a bunch of wires never looked like fun
Nice! but bye-bye Gramps
.
His shop & garage were like opening a 3d popular mechanics, or popular science magazine. Gadgets bought and made everywhere. He held a few patents, a couple used in chroming. Thank him for better temp control getting better lasting finishes in automotive chrome. They still use the Accurate Instrument Gauges I think.
I was taking off door handles as soon as I could reach them
.
The toolbox got a lock at home, so my Grandfathers shop on the next block, supplied my outlet for mechanical learning most days. (he lived miles away, mom&dad bought a house, seen while visiting his shop) I was watched over as he spoke, and I acted as his hands. I did everything myself, except final mill & metal lathe clamp torques that wouldn't do well being hit with a mallet to get the clamp tight. And this was pre-school, literally. (fractions confused me later
, but not decimals. I knew those already
)
He had me "master" things by hand, then machine. Wood first, then brass, copper, iron, steel, aluminum. Then came heat & dry powder hardening/pickling. I was his grease monkey, automated drill press feed, and chaser of lost check valve balls & their springs at the shop. This kid was seldom beat in pinewood derbys. It was the best when you could see the losing car was actually adult built (cause the scout was afraid to touch it, looking up to see if it was ok. Real "owners" don't do that. The "it's my car!" attitude cant be faked )
Anyhow when I see or hear about a kid being taught in this fashion, it give me grins And, makes me a little jealous in a way
Your obviously a "great" Grandpa, and "Thing #1 & Thing #2", they will likely thank you nearly daily for making time for instilling them with these great skills
Heck, I thank you for raising "builders" not more "store bought" children
